My last trip to Crawley by rail meant suffering one of those awful Electrostar trains on the last leg from Three Bridges.

Were people jumping for joy at the new sliding doors and air conditioning as the pressure groupies say they should? Actually no.

Instead I saw a man jump in alarm as the computerized voice said we were approaching Gatwick.

Anxiety spread down the cramped seating bays as local travellers tried to reassure the coast-bound contingent that the voice was wrong.

A comic moment broke the frenzy (mustn't laugh) as the man tripped on someone's luggage as the driver announced: "Ignore the computer, this is Crawley". Calm returned.

Yet, four years ago, while Shelly Atlas and various bankrupt politicians were pouring out the same old anti-slam-door tirades as now, South West Trains and Connex were quietly refurbishing some of our excellent 1964 carriages. On three occasions I heard passengers say simply: "I like these new trains".

Perhaps people want trains that are clean, comfortable and reliable rather than those sold to them as new, hi-tech and modern.

-Ian Fyvie, Brighton